ugnet_: Confusion in Teso as army soldier is killed

[Omar Kezimbira]

Confusion in Teso as army soldier is killed
By Patrick Elobu Angonu
September 23, 2003

SOROTI � Confusion reigned here on Sunday night (September 21) following a fire fight between the UPDF and the Arrow Group, a local militia in Teso. One UPDF soldier, Cpl. Richard Katende, was reportedly killed in the ensuing shootout. Third Division army spokesman, Lt. David Kazoora Mbiire, confirmed the incident but said it was not a major battle. �It is true a UPDF soldier was killed in a fire exchange with an Arrow Boy at Otucopi,� Lt. Mbiire said yesterday. Otucopi cell is in the Madera ward on the Soroti-Moroto highway. The dead soldier and the militia fighter reportedly had a �personal problem,� the army spokesman said. Lt. Mbiire refused to discuss details of the �personal� quarrel that provoked the shootout. Major Lumumba, the Third Division Intelligence Officer, however said that the militia fighter, Mr Michael Elimu, has been arrested. Soroti Municipality LC IV councillor for Madera, Mr Geoffrey Oumo, said that the shootout started when the Military Police tried to arrest the militias who were drinking at Otucopi, the scene of last month�s killing of eight people by the LRA rebels. Said Oumo: �The militias returned a hell of fire, killing a UPDF soldier after the Military Police shot at them? for reportedly drinking during patrol time.� The councillor said that it all started at 7.30 p.m. There has been some tension between the army and the local militias, especially over procurements and how to prosecute the ongoing campaign against the rebels. Some of the arguments have degenerated into firefights. Last week another �Arrow Boy� was arrested after killing a UPDF officer. The latest incident shattered the relative calm that had returned to much of the Teso sub region after the army last week flushed out most units of the LRA. �Teso is now calm [after] the UPDF combed off the bushes to wipe out the enemy,� Lt. Mbiire said. He said that one of the army�s battle vehicles (Mamba) was slightly damaged when it hit a landmine on the Asamuk-Wera road on Sunday. Lt. Mbiire said that the army last week rescued three abductees and killed two rebels. Unfortunately, he said, the LRA rebels in the same week also killed 10 civilians.

� 2003 The Monitor Publications

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